MEMOIR OF ELI WHITNEY. 



299 



vented the cotton-gin, in 1793, the whole cotton crtfp of the United Slates was 

 5,000,000 pounds, and the total exportation 487,600 pounds. In 1845, the U. S. 

 cotton crop was 1,029,850,000 pounds ; the exportation 862,580,000 pounds, the 

 domestic consumption being 167,270,000 pounds. And this development, which 

 began to sliow itself instantly^ all must admit to be the fruit of that invention. 

 Now by what rule shall we measure the value of such a benefaction to the 

 country, and how should it be rewarded ? Shall we take a lesson from the colo- 

 nial policy of an old, ill governed monarchy? There the Royal Board for the 

 encouragement of Agriculture on the Island of Cuba, have offered 



" One thousand doHars to the person wVio, 

 during the month of December, 18-15, shall 

 Boonest prejiare and put into the most perfect 

 state ot" tillage, one cabahelleria ot land, 

 witli tiie improved Ameri(-au plow, worked 

 by mules, and managed l)y whites.' One 

 thousand doUars to the person who sliall, on 

 the lirst of December, 13 16, sliow two ' ca- 

 belleruis ' of kind well stocked with red clo- 

 ver of six mouths' growth. 2''wenty thousand 

 doUars, in ammal installments of $2,000, to 

 the first person who, during tlie vears 18-4.'), 

 '46, and '47, sliall set up or establish a sugar 

 estate or plantation, in which the cultivation 

 of the cane sltdl be perfonneil by thirty white 

 families, consisting of a manned couple each 

 at lejLSt. One thousand dollars for the intro- 

 duction of the bean uaed in the sugar estates 

 of New-Orleans, asi an article of food. Four 

 thousand dollars to the person who sh;\ll show 

 on tlie first of December, 1818, an artihcial 

 planfcition of trees, of three years' grijwth. 

 Six thousand dollars to the person who shall 

 introduce f -om the East Indies 200 thriving 

 and luxuriant stfjcks of sugar canes, &.c. 

 Twelve thousand dollars, in annual install- 



ments of $2,000. to the person or persona 

 who shall set uj), during the years 1845 and 

 '46, a permanent establishment for the im- 

 provement of the breed of horses — four stal- 

 lions, viz.: one of each of the following breeds, 

 to be kept for public service, at prices to be 

 lixed by the owner — one Andalusian, one 

 Arab, one Norman, and one English — each 

 to be of the genuine breed, of good form, size, 

 &c. Six thousand dollars, in animal install- 

 ments of $1,000, to the person who shall im- 

 port direct from England one bull and six 

 cows ' of the ilnest and most reputed breed 

 of that countiy.' Tvo thousand dollars to 

 the person wlio, on the first of December, 

 1846, shall show a herd of the ' largest sized 

 swine,' introduced ti'om the United States of 

 America, or any other countjy. One tkou- 

 xand hard dollars to the person who shall, 

 on the first of December, 1846, ' present or 

 produce a breed of the largest domestic or 

 bani-door fowls, (gallinas,) hatched or born 

 on tiu; Island, of a breed mtroduced from the 

 United Stiites of America, or any other 

 country.' " 



What, may it not be asked, has this enlightened Republic, and all the States 

 and Societies in the Union done, in comparison with those munificent offers by 

 this Royal Board '■'■for the encouragement of Agriculture " in the Island of Cuba ? 

 Suppose the Government which every year derives so many millions of dollars 

 on goods paid for with cotton, should have secured for the inventor of the gin 

 even one cent a bale, to which none would have objected, the revenue to his 

 family would now be $20,000 a year. Under the most absolute monarchies of 

 Europe, men of genius who make discoveries in natural and practical philosophy, 

 and by their genius confer great benefit on the industrial pursuits of the people 

 have been enriched by Government patronage and raised to the highest politi- 

 cal rank. Alas I for American character and the cause of American Agriculture, 

 how different the treatment and the fate of the English barber's boy and the 

 American farmer's son ! The inventor of the spinning jenny. Sir Richard 

 Arkwright, died with a fortune of $2,500,000 ! Is it, then, that our " govern- 

 ment of the people " is to imitate them only or most nearly in their bestowment of 

 education, and liberal pay, and high rank, and life commissions, and pensions, on 

 that arm of power which despots maintain to stay the progress of free princi- 

 ples ? Truly, the fate of Fitch, and of Rurasey, and of Clinton, and Whitney, 

 and a host of inventors and men whose talents and virtues have improved and 

 adorned the civil service and pursuits of our country, would seem but too justly 

 to warrant the painful Lnquirv ! 



